The concept of error is principal to Advaita Vedanta. Error
is undersood as the root of the problem of samsara. Perceiving a rope as snake or
shell as silver are standard examples of error in Vedantic discussion. The
error that causes samsara is in the form of mistaking non-self to self and vice
versa. There are various words used in the Vedanta texts which refer to different
aspects of error. We shall now discuss four main words referring to error as explained
by Sri Akhandananda Muni in his detailed gloss on Panchapadika-vivaranam.
1. Avidya
The word avidya generally
refers to ajnana (ignorance) which is the cause of error. Sometime error is referred
to as avidya. Sri Akhandananda Muni explains the term avidya as “ज्ञानापनोद्यत्वम् अविद्यात्वम्.” Error is called avidya because it is removed by
knowledge. Avidya means ‘opposite of knowledge (विरोधार्थे नञ्). Knowledge
is the only means to dispel error.
2. Bhranti or Bhrama
प्रतिभासमात्रशरीरत्त्वं भ्रान्तिता That
which has only appearance as its nature is called Bhranti. The word ‘only’
signifies it does not have reality. The silver perceived on a shell has only
appearance without reality. Similarly, the identifications like “I am the body”
etc. don’t have reality. Therefore, they deserve to be refered to as Bhranti
or Bhrama.
3. Mithya
सदसद्विलक्षणत्त्वं मिथ्यात्वम् Mithya is that which is neither absolutely existing nor
absolutely non-existent in nature. The word mithya refers to the status of
existence of an object. Certain imaginary objects are absolutely non-existent (asat).
A standard example for such objects is a rabbit’s horn. The Brahman is absolute
existence (sat). That which is neither sat nor asat is
called mithya.
4. Adhyasa
सत्यानृतमिथुनीकरणात्मकत्त्वम् अद्ध्यासत्त्वम् Mixing up of real (satya) and and unreal (mithya,
also known as anrta) is called Adhyasa. The atma is satya
and anatma is mithya or anrta. They are mixed up in the universally
deceiving adhyasa.
